Snap-p connector

ABSTRACT

A storage battery terminal post connector of improved design so to be quickly and easily snapped on or off the terminal post; the device consisting of a pair of levers which are pivoted together at their one ends so that the opposite ends of the levers which form jaws can be brought together on opposite sides of the battery terminal post, the levers being supported between forked legs of a lever barrel connected to the end of a battery cable, and a compression coil spring normally urging the levers so that the jaws thereof firmly grasp the battery terminal post.

United States Patent [1 1 Poitras 51 Oct. 9, 1973 SNAP-P CONNECTOR [76]Inventor: Omer Poitras, Fort Nelson, B. C.,

Canada [22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 225,728

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Staab[57] ABSTRACT A, storage battery terminal post connector of improveddesign so to be quickly and easily snapped on or off the terminal post;the device consisting of a pair of levers which are pivoted together attheir one ends so that the opposite ends of the levers which form jawscan be brought together on opposite sides of the battery terminal post,the levers being supported between forked legs of a lever barrelconnected to the end of a battery cable, and a compression coil springnormally urging the levers so that the jaws thereof firmly grasp thebattery terminal post.

2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures SNAP-P CONNECTOR This'invention relatesgenerally to storage battery accessories. More specifically the presentinvention relates to clamping devices such as battery terminal clamps.

It is generally well known to most motorist that-at times it is veryhard to remove a battery cable connector from thebattery terminal postbecause it becomes corrated thereupon. Likewise it is difficult to mountthe connector upon the terminal post properly so to make a goodelectrical connection. This situation is of course objectionable andtherefore'in want of improvement.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a snap-pconnector of improved design which is quick and easy to put on theterminal post and equally quick and easy to remove the same therefrom;either of which can be accomplished in about 2 seconds. Still anotherobject of the present invention is to provide a snap-p connector whichdoes not need any tools for securement or removal from'the terminalpost.

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a snap-pconnector which requires just a twist of the wrist so to put it on andanother twist so to remove. t

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a snap-pconnector which forms a positive contact electrically, whichisself-adjusting and which is self-tighting.

Otherpbjectsof the present invention are to provide a snap-p connectorwhich is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged inconstruction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the working principal of the present invention,

- FIG. 2 is a side view of the snap-p lever lock connector shown persay,

. FIG. 3 is a side elevation view'of the present invention shown mountedon a battery terminal post,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the connector in a snapopen position respective to a terminal post,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lever barrel forming a component ofthe present invention and shown with related parts,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plunger and spring for being mountedon the lever barrel,

FIG. 7 is a view of the top of the holding jaw,

FIG. 8 is a top view of the sliding jaw,

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the jaws, and

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the half moon jaws.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10represents a snap-p connector according to the present invention whereinthere is an assembly 11 that includes a lever barrel 12 having a pair ofparallel spaced apart legs 13 between which a pair of levers 14 and 15are positioned, the levers at their one ends being attached pivotallytogether about a short pin 16, the opposite ends of the levers formingrespectively a holding jaw 17 and a sliding jaw 18. The lever 14 alongan intermediate portion thereof has a sidewardly extending lug 19 havinganopening 20 therethrough for being aligned with openings 21 in each ofthe barrel legs 13 so that a long pin 22 can be fitted therethrough forsupporting the levers on the barrel. I

The other lever 15 along an intermediate portion thereof is providedwith a recess or depression 23 against which a plunger 24 forcablybearsdue to a compression coil spring 25 being located between theplunger and the end wall26 of the barrel, the end wall 26 forming thebottom end of a well or opening 27 into which a skinned end 28 of abattery cable 29'is receiv-- able and saudered therewithin.

It will now be evident that the levers can be positioned on oppositesides of a battery terminal post 30 and snapped thereupon or snapped offtherefrom, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. t v

A stop 31 is formed on the lever 15, the stop being designed to abuttagainst a lip 32 of the barrel'so to limit the spreading apart distancebetween the lever aws.

vAs shown in FIG. 4, it is to be noted that the plunger hits the stop 31when the barrel is flipped upwardly as shown by the arrow 32 so that thejaws of the levers spread apart automatically and quickly for easyremoval of the snap-p connector from the battery post. When the barrelis pivoted in a downward position so to assume the position-shown inFIG. 3 with the jaws clamped upon the battery post, the plunger strikesinto .the recess or depression 23 'so to lock the jaws hard against theside of the battery post. Thus a lever lock action is provided.

References now made to FIG. 10 wherein half moon jaws are provided, thehalf moon jaw 33 forming the holding jaw while the half moon jaw 34forms the sliding jaw.

What I now claim is:

1. In a Snap-P Connector, the combination of an assembly for providinglever-lock action for snapping on and off a storage battery terminalpost, said assembly being comprised of a barrel soldered on a terminalend of a flexible battery cable, said barrel supporting a pair of leversfor positioning on opposite sides of said battery terminal post, saidbarrel at one end comprising a cable well into which said battery cableis fitted and soldered, the opposite end of said barrel being forked toform a pair of parallel spaced apart legs, said levers being positionedbetween said legs, said levers being connected pivotally together attheir one ends by means of a short pin, the opposite ends of said leversforming jaws for placement against opposite sides of i said batteryterminal post, one of said levers jaw forming a holding jaw while theother lever jaw forms a sliding jaw, an intermediate portion of saidholding jaw having a transverse opening receiving a pin which at itsopposite end is fitted through openings in the ends of said legs of saidbarrel, while the other of said levers along an intermediate portionthereof is provided with a recess or depression, a sliding plunger beingsupported within said barrel, one end of said plunger being normallyurged against said recess or depression by means of a compression coilspring.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein an end of saidsliding jaw is provided withfa stop adjacent which there is a secondrecess, said second recess being adaptable to receive the end of saidplunger when said barrel is upwardly flipped so to cause said jaws tospread apart.

I! i k

1. In a Snap-P Connector, the combination of an assembly for providinglever-lock action for snapping on and off a storage battery terminalpost, said assembly being comprised of a barrel soldered on a terminalend of a flexible battery cable, said barrel supporting a pair of leversfor positioning on opposite sides of said battery terminal post, saidbarrel at one end comprising a cable well into which said battery cableis fitted and soldered, the opposite end of said barrel being forked toform a pair of parallel spaced apart legs, said levers being positionedbetween said legs, said levers being connected pivotally together attheir one ends by means of a short pin, the opposite ends of said leversforming jaws for placement against opposite sides of said batteryterminal post, one of said lever''s jaw forming a holding jaw while theother lever jaw forms a sliding jaw, an intermediate portion of saidholding jaw having a transverse opening receiving a pin which at itsopposite end is fitted through openings in the ends of said legs of saidbarrel, while the other of said levers along an intermediate portionthereof is provided with a recess or depression, a sliding plunger beingsupported within said barrel, one end of said plunger being normallyurged against said recess or depression by means of a compression coilspring.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein an end ofsaid sliding jaw is provided with a stop adjacent which there is asecond recess, said second recess being adaptable to receive the end ofsaid plunger when said barrel is upwardly flipped so to cause said jawsto spread apart.